What should nurses monitor for in patients undergoing chemotherapy?

Monitoring patients undergoing chemotherapy is critical for ensuring their safety and managing the treatment effectively. The correct choice highlights the necessity of observing adverse reactions, side effects, and tumor response.

Chemotherapy can lead to a variety of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, and blood count changes, which can lead to increased risk of infection or bleeding. Nurses play a crucial role in identifying these side effects early, enabling timely interventions to alleviate symptoms and improve patient comfort.

Additionally, monitoring tumor response is vital to assess the effectiveness of the chemotherapy regimen. Changes in tumor size, spread, or overall disease status can inform treatment decisions, including the need for adjustments in therapy or consideration of alternative treatments.

While emotional well-being is important, it is only one aspect of comprehensive patient care. Factors such as the patient's ability to travel and dietary preferences, while relevant to individual comfort and quality of life, do not encompass the critical clinical aspects that nurses need to monitor closely during chemotherapy. Therefore, focusing on adverse reactions, side effects, and tumor response provides a more complete and essential framework for nursing assessments in patients receiving chemotherapy.